Alicia Mediavilla

My name is Alicia, and I come from a Biotechnology background—so I’m usually found wearing a lab coat and peering at petri dishes under a microscope. That’s why it felt both strange and wonderful to find myself on a boat in the Galápagos, studying giant tortoises and sharing their story. I firmly believe that tackling complex environmental challenges requires a broad perspective. That’s why I choose not to spend all my time in the lab—I also lace up my hiking boots and stay closely connected to nature. Photography and diving are two passions of mine that open doors to new dimensions of the natural world, allowing me to explore and appreciate it in different ways. My academic journey took me from the University of Salamanca and Gent University to a master’s degree in Applied Blue Biotechnology, where I specialized in marine research. I’ve also contributed to environmental projects with WWF and had the privilege of participating in the Darwin 200 initiative as a young conservationist focusing on the Giant Tortoise of San Cristóbal. This last experience has been eye-opening and deeply rewarding. It has shown me how powerful storytelling can be in driving conservation efforts, raising environmental awareness, and strengthening our connection to nature.

LOCATION:	Galapagos	AREA OF STUDY:	Giant Tortoises
NATIONALITY:	Spain	SPONSOR:	Projects Galapagos
FILMMAKER:	Josh Clarke

START DATE:	27th April
END DATE:	11th May
LOCATION:	Galapagos
END POINT:	Spain

AREA OF STUDY:	Giant Tortoises
SPONSOR:	Projects Galapagos
FILMMAKER:	Josh Clarke

Area of Study: Giant Tortoises

The stars of the show here are these ancient, dinosaur-like creatures that have been roaming the Galapagos for centuries. Our project is a three-part short film series that follows the giant tortoises of San Cristóbal through time—from their evolutionary roots to the modern-day challenges they face. The first film sets the scene by introducing these creatures and exploring how human activity led to a massive population decline. The second film takes you to the heart of conservation efforts at Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve, a 12 hectare breeding center where researchers, rangers, and volunteers have been working tirelessly to help the species recover. In the third and final film, we turn our eyes to the wild populations, where the most complex and persistent threats remain. The breeding center has done its part—now it’s about ensuring this species can thrive on their own. We felt it was important for this story to be accessible to a wider audience, especially the local community that has welcomed and supported our work, that’s why we chose to make the films in both English and Spanish. We hope this project informs, inspires, and sparks curiosity about these endemic giants and their legacy carved through the ages.